Zita West is one of Europe’s leading pregnancy experts and has been involved in fertility and pregnancy for over 25 years, as a midwife, a nutritional advisor and acupuncturist. Here, she shares her tips for conceiving naturally: ?

?Keep your weight under control. A woman’s body mass index (BMI) should be around 20-25. If it is too high or too low, it can affect the balance of hormones and interfere with ovulation. Overweight men are also more likely to have lower quality sperm. ?

?Don’t excessively exercise. It can cause irregular cycles and prevent ovulation. Similarly marathon running and long distance cycling can affect sperm quality. ?

?Take your supplements. Take a supplement such as Zita West’s Vitafem for women and Vitamen for men, which supply a good balance of multi-vitamins. Another supplement to consider is essential fatty acids. Eight out of ten women are deficient in this acid. Add them in to your diet as they are important for the development of your soon to be baby’s brain. Finally, folic acid – research shows that it helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. ?

?Bin the cigarettes. It ages the eggs and affects the womb lining. In men, smoking can result in damaging the sperm and increasing the chances of a miscarriage. ?

?Likewise, cut out alcohol. Heavy drinking can result in birth defects and poor quality sperm for men. ? ?

For more information pick up a copy of Fertility & Conception: The Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant, £14.99, by Zita West (Dorling Kindersley)

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www.zitawest.com